Four parts manhole enabling an easy install and height adjustment

ABSTRACT

A manhole comprised of four parts is provided. The manhole is comprised of an outer-manhole pipe, an inner-manhole pipe, a manhole cover, and a support pipe. Pluralities of concave arc band shape blades are horizontally developed along the inner surface of the outer manhole pipe. Same number of convex arc band shape blades is horizontally developed along the outer surface of the inner manhole pipe. The inner-manhole pipe is inserted into the outer-manhole pipe vertically when the two kinds of arc shape blades aligned to make pass way for each other. When a desired height is reached, workers rotate the inner-manhole pipe  60  degrees horizontally and put down the inner-manhole pipe. Then the two kinds of blades are overlapped and fix the height of the manhole cover. A support pipe, comprised of two pieces of equal hemi-pipe connected one end, is engaged between the top flange of the inner-manhole pipe and top end of the outer manhole pipe to hold and support the distance between them.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Current application is related with a road installing manhole,especially related with an easy installation and height adjustablemanhole comprised of four parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of manhole is comprised of one main steel pipe and one cover. Oncethe manhole is installed on the street over sewage line and many otherfacilities for city life, the position of the manhole cover from thebase of the pavement or from the outer surface of the huge constructionof a sewage line is fixed. However, due to the severe weather conditionssuch as extreme temperature change and rains, there develop creeksbetween the manholes and the road surface surrounding them. Those creeksare not only very dangerous for cars and pedestrians passing by thearea. Most local authorities spend lots of their budget to cover upthose creeks. The best way is to pave the whole road of that area andpaint the lines. But, as the pavements are repeated, the surface of theroad reaches well above the cover of the manhole. To avoid suchsituation, road workers must dig out the whole manhole structure andre-install it based on the new surface of the road.

Many kinds of height adjustable manholes and manhole covers areintroduced. Most of those height adjustable manholes utilize screw typesupport and/or male screw threads developed on the outer surface of theinner pipe combined with female screw threads developed on the innersurface of the outer pipe or support.

However, due to the environment of the places where the manholes arelocated, it is not an easy procedure to install and re-adjust the heightof those screw shape manholes. First of all, the workers must align bothof the male and female threads in correct position, engage them and turnthe manhole pipe to the desired position. Contaminants, such as sand andmetal can stuck between the screw threads make it hard to turn themanhole pipe. Once a manhole is installed on the road, it usually takesat least from couple of months to many years. The moistures from theunder ground water and surface water easily corrodes the screw threadsand make them stick together. Then it needs extra effort to eliminatethe corrodes from the threads.

It is purpose of the current application to provide a manhole that canadjust a height from the cover to the road surface without not onlydigging out the whole structure from the place where it was buried, butalso without extra effort of turning the inner manhole until the desiredposition is reached. The structure of the manhole of current applicationenables an easy installation and easy adjustment of the height of themanhole cover from the basin structure of sewage treatment system buriedunderground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,973 and 6,179,518 to Suatac illustrates anadjustable manhole cover frame assembly suitable for mounting on amanhole basin upper section has an outer ring, capable of resting on thetop surface of the upper section, and an inner ring engaging the outerring by screw threads and having support for a manhole cover. It is likescrew cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,433 to Zdroik illustrates an adjustablemanhole/catch basin structure includes a mounting base, adjustable tube,and protection sleeve. The adjustable manhole (1) is installable onlyonto a concrete lateral (100) by fixing the position with mortar (102).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,667 to Ryan, et al. illustrates a telescopic manholeor storm drain installation includes a riser assembly provided with anupper section and adjacent lower section the former of which comprises aside wall defining an inverted frustoconical configuration while thelatter provides a vertically disposed member having external threadscooperating with a stationary threaded collar.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,796 to Cuozzo illustrates a manhole consistsprimarily of a cast and internally threaded main body, which receives acast and internally threaded sleeve, which may be raised to differentpavement levels by means of a removable spanner wrench. It includes apair of diametrically opposed and slidable locking plates, which havepin means on the underside for being received within openings on theupper interior of the sleeve, and the upper portion of the platesprojects outwards of the sleeve, so as to lock the sleeve and coverwithin the main body, thus preventing rotation thereof, the plates whenthe sleeve is lowered or elevated, serving as a means of rendering thesleeve and cover stationary at various pavement levels.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,981 to Mc Caffery illustrates an adjustable heightassembly for supporting a cover over a subterranean access openingwherein a cylindrical frame structure having interior coaxial acmethreads is adopted to be permanently located in non-rotatable submergedposition.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,199 to Pickett illustrates a manhole structurecomprising a first substantially cylindrical frame member adapted to bedisposed underground structure and a second substantially cylindricalframe member adjustably and telecopy disposed with respect to the firstframe member adapted to extend upwardly an adjustable distance to thesurface of the ground.

None of the prior art teaches to provide a height adjustable manholesystem that enables an easy installation and height adjustment withoututilizing screw threads system shown in the present application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The manhole of current application is comprised of an outer-manholepipe, an inner-manhole pie, a manhole cover, and a support pipe. Threeconcave arc band shape blades are horizontally located along the innersurface of the outer-manhole pipe in one layer. Five layers of concavearc shape blades, placed with same distance, are aligned to form threevertical columns of blades. Three convex arc band shape blades arehorizontally located along the outer surface of the inner manhole pipe.Five layers of convex arc shape blades, placed with same distance, arealigned to form three vertical columns of blades. Size of all the arcband blades is the same. The size of the space between the twoneighboring concave blades is the same as the size of a convex blade.When a space between the two neighboring concave blade is occupied by aconvex blade, the inner-manhole pipe can move vertically freely. Once adesired vertical position of the inner-manhole pipe is reached, workersturn the inner-manhole pipe horizontally 60 degrees and put down thepipe. Then the concave and convex arc shape blades overlap each other.To separate the two pipes, lift up the inner-pipe slightly, turn 60degrees horizontally and pull up the inner-pipe. The support pipe isengaged between the top flange of the inner-manhole pipe and top end ofthe outer manhole pipe to hold and support the distance between them.The structure of the manhole of current application enables an easyinstallation and easy adjustment of the height of the manhole cover fromthe basin structure of sewage treatment system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a height adjustable manhole of thecurrent application.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manhole cover with handle cam lock forthe height adjustable manhole of the current application.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handle cam lock of the manhole coverwhen handle is in upward position and is in down position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner-manhole pipe equipped with aflange.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section ‘A’ in FIG. 1, showingarrangement of the convex arc band shape blades.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer- manhole pipe showing theinner surface of the pipe.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section ‘B’ in FIG. 6, showingarrangement of the concave arc band shape blades.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a support pipe.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support pipe installed on the outer-manhole pipe.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view of the height adjustablemanhole of the current application assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a height adjustable manhole (1) of thecurrent application. The manhole (1) is comprised of an outer-manholepipe (2), an inner-manhole pipe (3), a manhole cover (4), and a supportpipe (5).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manhole cover (4) with handle cam lock(6) for the height adjustable manhole (1) of the current application.FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cam lock (6) of the manhole cover (4).FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner- manhole pipe (3) equipped witha flange (7). The flange (7) has an opening (8) to receive cam shaft(9). When the handle (10) of the cam lock (6) is vertically upward, thecam shaft (9) is placed in down part of the cylindrical cam hole (11)due to the shape of cam (12). When the handle (10) of the cam lock (6)is laid down and inserted into the cam lock box (13), the camshaft (9)is placed in the upper part of the cam hole (11).

To close the manhole cover (4), a worker picks up the handle (10) in upright position to the cover (4) and insert the cam shaft (9) through theopening (8). Turn the cover 90 degrees horizontally to move the camshaft (9), which is now located under the cover (4), to a positionperpendicular to the opening (9). Press down the handle (10) into thecam lock box (13). Then the cam shaft (9) moves up ward in the cam hole(11) and lock the manhole cover (4) by adhering the shaft (9) to theunderneath side of the flange (7). Rubber packing may be installedbetween the manhole cover (4) and the flange (7).

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the inner-manhole pipe and the arrangement ofconvex arc band shape blades (14). The arc band shape blades areprepared from annular plates of same size. The inner diameter of theannular plate is equal to the outer diameter of the inner-manhole pipe(3) and outer diameter of the annular plate is 1 mm smaller than theinner diameter of the outer-manhole pipe (2). Each annular plate isdivided into six pieces of same size. On a circular plane, center ofeach piece of the convex arc band shape blade (14) locates 60 degreesapart from the neighboring blade's (14′) center. A small protrusion(14-1) is developed at the center of the lower surface of each convexarc band shape blades (14). As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, three piecesof convex arc band shape blades (14) are horizontally located along theouter surface of the inner manhole pipe (3) in one layer. Each blade(14) is located with same space (15) from the neighboring blade. Thesize and shape of the space between the neighboring blades (14) are sameas the blade. Three to five layers of convex arc shape blades (14),placed with same distance (16), are aligned to form three verticalcolumns (17) of blades. Size of all the arc band blades is the same. Thesize of the space (15) between the two neighboring convex blades is thesame as the size of a convex blade. When a space between the twoneighboring convex blade is occupied by a concave blade, theinner-manhole pipe can move vertically freely.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer-manhole pipe showing the innersurface of the pipe. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section ‘B’ inFIG. 6, showing arrangement of the concave arc band shape blades. Theinner diameter of the annular plate is 1 mm larger than the outerdiameter of the inner-manhole pipe (3) and outer diameter of the annularplate is equal to the inner diameter of the outer-manhole pipe (2). On acircular plane, center of each piece of the concave arc band shape blade(18) locates 60 degrees apart from the neighboring blade's (18′) center.As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, three pieces of concave arc band shapeblades (18) are horizontally located along the inner surface of theouter manhole pipe (2) in one layer. A groove (18-1) to guide theprotrusion (14-1) of the convex arc band shape blade (14) is developedalong the upper surface of each concave arc band shape blade (18) and adimple (18-2) of the similar size of the protrusion (14-1) is developedat the center of the groove (18-1) to hold the position of theprotrusion (14-1) when the arc shape blades of the inner-manhole pipeand outer manhole pipe are overlapped.

Each blade (18) is located with same space (19) from the neighboringblade. The size and shape of the space (19) between the neighboringconcave arc shape blades (18) are same as the blade. Three to fivelayers of concave arc shape blades (18), placed with same space (19),are aligned to form three vertical columns (20) of concave arc shapeblades. The size of the space (19) between the two neighboring concaveblades (18) is the same as the size of a convex blade. When a spacebetween the two neighboring concave blade (18) is occupied by a convexblade (14), the inner-manhole pipe can move vertically freely. A flange(21) with pluralities of flange holes (22) is developed at the middle ofthe outer-manhole pipe (2) along the outer surface thereof to fix thepipe to the ground or to a structure underneath of the manhole (1).

When a worker installs a manhole, he/she aligns the blades of theinner-manhole pipe (3) and outer-manhole pipe (2) to be positioned insequence on an imaginary circular plane that is parallel to thehorizontal surface. Then push down the inner-manhole pipe (3) to thedepth of desired and rotate the inner-manhole pipe 60 degreeshorizontally. The grooves (18-1) developed on the concave arc band shapeblades (18) guide the protrusions (14-1) to rotate steadily in acircular motion. In this position, the concave arc band shape blade (18)and convex arc shape band blades (14) overlap each other. Theprotrusions (14-1) and the dimples (18-2) meet. Push down theinner-manhole pipe (3) to engage the protrusions (14-1) to the dimples(18-2).

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a support pipe (5) for the manhole (1)of the current application. The support pipe (5) is comprised of twoequal hemi-pipe (25). One end of each hemi-pipes (25) are connected bytwo male connectors (26) and two female connectors (27) developed oneach other hemi-pipe. The other ends of the hemi-pipes (25) areconnected by a key (28) and key hole (29).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support pipe (5) installed on theouter-manhole pipe (2). The height (24) of the support pipe (5) istailored to the distance between the top of the outer-manhole pipe (2)and the bottom of the manhole cover (4). The role of this support pipe(5) is preventing soil from getting into the space between the top ofthe outer-manhole pipe (2) and the bottom of the manhole cover (4) tostick between the concave arc band shape blade (18) of the outer-manholepipe (2) and convex arc shape band blades (14) of the inner-manhole pipe(3).

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view of the height adjustablemanhole (1) of the current application assembled showing how the fourparts are assembled. The outer-manhole pipe (2) with flange (21)received the inner-manhole pipe (3). The concave arc band shape blades(18) of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and the convex arc band shape blades(14) are over-lapped and engaged each other via the protrusion (14-1) ofthe convex arc band shape blades (14) and the dimple (18-2) of theconcave arc band shape blades (18). The support pipe (5) is installedbetween the top of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and the bottom of theflange (7) of the inner-manhole pipe (3). The handle (10) of the camlock of the manhole cover (4) is in open position.

The noble structure of the height adjustable manhole comprised of fourmajor part of the current application an easy installation and heightadjustment of a manhole buried on a road surface. Many kind of variationis possible based on this disclosure.

1. A height adjustable manhole comprised of; a manhole cover with handlecam lock that is comprised of a handle, a cam, a cam shaft, and a camlock box; and an outer-manhole pipe equipped with pluralities of concavearc band shape blades of same size, whose outer diameter is equal to theinner diameter of the outer pipe and inner diameter is 1 mm larger thanthe outer diameter of the inner pipe and center of each piece of theconcave arc band shape blade locates 60 degrees apart from theneighboring concave arc band shape blade's center and a groove to guidea protrusion of a convex arc band shape blade is developed along theupper surface of each concave arc band shape blade and a dimple of thesimilar size of the protrusion is developed at the center of the grooveto hold the position of the protrusion when the arc shape blades of aninner-manhole pipe and outer manhole pipe are overlapped and a flangewith pluralities of flange holes is developed at the middle of outsidethereof; and an inner-manhole pipe equipped with a flange that has anopening to receive the cam shaft and pluralities of convex arc bandshape blades of same size, whose inner diameter is equal to the outerdiameter of the inner-manhole pipe and outer diameter of the annularplate is 1 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the outer-manhole pipeand center of each piece of the convex arc band shape blade locates 60degrees apart from the neighboring blade's center and a small protrusionis developed at the center of the lower surface of each convex arc bandshape blades; and a support pipe that is comprised of two equalhemi-pipes, one end of each hemi-pipe is connected by two maleconnectors and two female connectors developed on each other hemi-pipeand the other ends of the hemi-pipes are connected by a key and a keyhole and is installed between the top of the outer-manhole pipe and thebottom of the flange of the inner-manhole pipe.
 2. A height adjustablemanhole of claim 1, wherein three pieces of convex arc band shape bladesof same size are horizontally located along the outer surface of theinner manhole pipe in one layer and three pieces of concave arc bandshape blades are horizontally located along the inner surface of theouter manhole pipe in one layer.
 3. A height adjustable manhole of claim1, wherein the inner-manhole pipe move vertically freely when a spacebetween the two neighboring convex arc shape blade is occupied by aconcave arc shape blade,